Building Development
The Public Sector

The Architectural Services Department acts as the Government's architect in providing financial management, professional and technical services for all public building developments, except public housing, in three main areas:—

   (i) Monitoring and advisory services to the Administration and all government departments, including overseeing subvented projects financed by the Government. Altogether, 1 700 projects valued at $60 billion were monitored in 2000.
   (ii) Professional multi-disciplinary services for project management, design (architectural, structural, building services, quantity survey and landscape), documentation, contract letting and supervising construction of building projects in the Public Works Programme and those of the Hospital Authority. During the year, the department's rolling programme covered 370 projects under planning, design and construction, and valued at $80 billion.
   (iii) Building maintenance services including maintenance, alteration, addition, fitting out and refurbishment of all public buildings and facilities, as well as those of the Hospital Authority, totalling a floor area of approximately 25 million square metres. The department also undertook conservation and restoration works to listed buildings and gazetted monuments, and emergency and major repairs to all subvented schools situated outside public housing estates.

    In 2000, the total expenditure on building projects undertaken by the department was $12.56 billion, with a further $2.33 billion being spent on routine maintenance and minor alteration works. The building projects designed and managed by the department were in the following areas:—

Education

Eighteen primary schools and 11 secondary schools were completed in 2000 under the School Building Programme. One special school was also completed. Construction works started on 19 primary schools, two secondary schools and two special schools. Improvements to 48 schools were completed and works on another 14 schools also started under the School Improvement Programme.

Domestic

Major projects under construction included the departmental quarters at Kwun Tong, Lai King, West Kowloon Reclamation and Fanling.

Disciplined Services

Projects completed included the Fu Tei Fire Station and the Sandy Bay Fire Station. Projects under construction included the Tseung Kwan O Fire Station-cum-Ambulance Depot, the Tactical Training Complex at the Police Training School in Aberdeen, and the Redevelopment of the Tai Lam Correctional Institution. Demolition works at the Arsenal Yard Site were completed in preparation for the Phase III Redevelopment of the Police Headquarters.

Science and Research

Construction of the initial group of buildings in Phase 1 of the Science Park project at Pak Shek Kok, in Tai Po, commenced in February for completion by the end of 2001. This includes two buildings designed for research and development, one multi-storey car park, support and communal facilities and all the roads and infrastructural work. The last group of buildings within Phase 1 is planned for completion by early 2004. Phase 1 will provide a total of 120 000 square metres of space for research and development works in fields such as electronics, information technology, biotechnology, precision engineering and other areas.

Medical and Health

Major projects completed included the Lai King Hospital and the Trauma Centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

    Major projects under construction included the Caritas Medical Centre Redevelopment, Kowloon Hospital Redevelopment Phase I, Tuen Mun Hospital Polyclinic, Castle Peak Hospital Redevelopment Phase II, Fanling Primary Health Care Centre, Public Health Laboratory Centre, and the Hospital Improvement Programme Phases III & IV.

Recreation and Culture

Major recreational and cultural projects completed in 2000 included the Swimming Pool Complex, Library, Indoor Recreation Centre and District Open Space in Area 24, Tseung Kwan O; the Hong Kong Film Archive and Leisure Centre at Sai Wan Ho; Redevelopment of Sai Kung Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground; Sai Kung Swimming Pool Complex Phase II; Improvement to Castle Peak Beach; and the Lai Chi Kok Park Stage III.

    Major venues opened to the public in 2000 included the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Yuen Long Theatre.

    The Tsing Yi Complex won a Certificate of Merit in the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Awards 1999 and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Structural Division Certificate of Commendation Award 1999.

    Projects under construction included the Indoor Recreation Centre cum Library in Area 100, Ma On Shan; Improvement to Victoria Park; Jordan Valley Playground Phase II Stage 2; Local Open Space in Area 44, Tuen Mun; and the Renovation to external walls of the Sha Tin and Tuen Mun Town Hall Complexes.

Landscape

A number of landscape projects incorporating traditional Chinese gardens were completed at the Hong Ning Road Park Phase II in Kwun Tong and at the Lai Chi Kok Park. Other major landscape projects completed included the Ping Shek Playground and the Jordan Valley Playground Phase II.

Design and Build Contracts

Projects completed included a maintenance depot on Lantau Island. Projects under construction included departmental quarters at Kwun Tong, Lai King, West Kowloon Reclamation and Fanling; and a Joint-user Office Building at Sha Tin.

Environmental Action

The department is fully committed to continually improving the environment. Objectives and targets for government building projects are reviewed every year with an aim to set higher goals as well as to include other new environmental initiatives. In November, the department was awarded the '2000 Climate Protection Award' by the US Environmental Protection Agency for demonstrating leadership and making significant contributions to protection of the Earth's climate.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Building Design

Energy efficiency and conservation have become a compulsory consideration in the design of new government buildings. In 2000, over 90 per cent of new government building projects achieved an Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) of not more than 23 watts per square metre, and 10 per cent of new projects have achieved an OTTV of less than 18 watts per square metre. This is considerably better than the current statutory requirement of 30 watts per square metre introduced to limit the building solar and temperature heat gain.

    Renewable, clean and energy efficient technologies and techniques have been widely adopted in the design of building services installations. Three projects — North Point Government Offices, Headquarters Building of Property Services Branch and Kowloon City Magistracy Building — have been certified for compliance under the Hong Kong Energy Efficiency Registration Scheme for Buildings. This scheme was developed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to recognise measures taken to save energy.

    The Government has signed an agreement with the power companies in May on the 'Demand Side Management' to promote energy efficiency and conservation. In pursuance of this initiative, the Government has taken the lead in installing energy-efficient lighting for new buildings and retrofit projects.

Green Management

With the support of the private sector, the general awareness of environmental protection in the construction industry has been increasing through various government initiatives. The Green Contractor Award Scheme was promulgated to increase publicity and awareness of green issues. The Green Manager Scheme has been sustained to monitor consumption of all types of paper, electricity use and indoor air quality in government offices through better housekeeping.